Leg brace



y 3, 1951 w. L. SLODEK, SR 2,559,473

LEG BRACE Filed Jan. 27, 1949 2 Sheets-Sfieet 1 Fig.

Wallace L. Sladek, 5r. INVENTOR.

non Waxy 3m July 3, 1951 w. L. SLODEK, SR

LEG BRACE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1949 Fig. 7.

Wallace L Slade/g 5r.

INVENTOR.

BY mw Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEG BRACEWallace L. Slodek, Sr., Nashville, Tenn.

Application January 27, 1949, Serial No. 73,135

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structuralrefinements in leg braces, and the principal object of the invention isto' provide a device of the character herein described which is simplein construction, light that they may be securely locked in a predeter--mined relative position, but may be expeditiously unlocked tofacilitate bending of the leg at the knee. Another feature of theinvention involves the arrangement of the pivot joint and locking meansin such manner that the joint automatically locks itself when the legstraps, after bending of the leg, are returned to a predeterminedrelative position.

With the above more important objects and feature in view, and suchother objects and features as may become apparent as this specificationproceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement andconstruction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational detail, partially broken awayand showin the pivotal attachment of the foot cradle to the lower legstraps;

Figure 4 is a side elevational detail of the knee joint used in theinvention;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view, similar to that shown in Figure 4,but showing the joint as being partially broken away so as to reveal itsconstruction;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional View, takensubstantially on the plane ofthe line 66 in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view, takensubstantially on the plane ofthe line 'l-| in Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar to that shownin Figure 3 but illustrating a modified form of construction; and

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the plane ofthe line 99 in Figure 8.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in thespecification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the inventionconsists of a leg brace designated generally by the reference character[-6, the same embodying in its construction, inter alia, a pair ofspaced, upwardly divergent, upper leg straps l8, a pair of spaced,substantially parallel, lower leg straps 20 and a substantially U-shapedfoot cradle 2.2.

The upper le straps Ia are connected together by suitable cross members24, 26 and are pivotally connected to the lower leg straps. 20 by a pairof pivot joints 28 which will be hereinafter described.

The lower end of the lower leg straps 20. are provided with connectingmembers or adapters 30 having a U-shaped cross sectional configurationso as to provide sockets wherein the lower end portions of the straps 20may be rigidly secured by transversely extending rivets 32, and it is tobe noted that the sides of the adapters 30- are extended downwardlybeyond the. lower ends of the straps 20 so as to form a pair of spacedcars 34 between which may be pivotally mounted the upper end portions ofthe cradle 22 by means of a suitable pivot pin or rivet 36. The upperend portions of the cradle 22 are formed with rearwardly extendingprojections 38-which are engageable with the lower edge of the bightportion of the members 30 when the cradle 22 is substantiallyhorizontal, so that the cradle i effectively prevented from swingingrearwardly on the pivot 36. However, forward swinging of the cradle inthe direction of the arrow 40 is. facilitated, such as for example,during walking.

However, in the modified embodiment of the invention illustrated inFigures 8- and 9,v the projections 38 are not provided on the cradle 42,so that swinging of the cradle in both directions is possible. In otherwords, assuming the cradle 42 in Figures 8 and 9 to remain stationary,the leg strap 20 may swing forwardly and rearwardly as indicated at 44,46 respectively, while in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 thestrip, 20' may swing only forwardly as indicated a 8.

Referring now to the construction of the pivot joints 28 whichconstitute the essence of the invention, the two joints used in the legbrace are similar in construction, so that a description of one willsufiice for both.

Each of the joints 28 consists of a pair of joint members 50, 52 which,like the aforementioned adapter 30, are U-shaped in cross section,whereby the lower end portion of the strap I8 may be secured in thesocket provided by the U-shaped configuration of the member 50, such asfor example by suitable rivets 54. Similarly, the upper end portion ofthe lower leg strap 20 is secured in the socket provided by the jointmember 52, by means of suitable rivets 56.

The sides of the joint members 50, 52 extend beyond the respective lowerand. upper ends of the straps I8, 20, and provide pairs of spaced,

interfitting ears 58, 60 respectively, which are pivotally connectedtogether by a transversely extending pin or rivet 62. By virtue of thisarrangement the straps I8, 20 may be swung angularly with the movementof the leg at the knee as is exemplified at 64, 56 in Figure 2. However,it is to be noted that the interfitting bight portions of the jointmembers 50, 52 are in abutment as at 88 when the straps I8, 20 arelongi-' tudinally alined, whereby the straps are pre vented fromswinging forwardly of the joint 28.

:. Moreover, means are provided for releasably pawl is pivotally mountedby means of a rivet 18 between the spaced sides of the joint member 50,and it is to be noted that a portion of the pawl projects outwardly fromthe joint member so as to constitute what may be referred to as afingerpiece 80.

A stem 82 is pivotally connected at one end thereof at 84 to thefinger-piece 80 and is slidable in a guide 86 secured by welding, or thelike, to the joint member 50, a suitable compression spring beingprovided on the stem B2 and bearing against the guide 86 and the finger-.piece 80, wherebythedetent i4 is urged in engagement with theperipheryof the cam piece 10, particularly in engagement with the seat72.

Accordingly, the engagement of the detent: 14 with the seat 72 willeffectively lock the leg straps I8, 20 in longitudinal alinement, but bysimply actuating the finger-piece 80 in the direction of the arrow 90(see Figures 4 and 5) the spring 88 will be compressed while the stem-82 slides through the guide 86, and the detent 14 will be disengagedfrom the seat 72, so that the straps I8, 28 may be swung, one relativeto the other,

as necessitated by the bending of the leg at the knee. However, afterthe finger-piece 80 is released and the leg is'straightened, the spring88 will force the detent '54 into the seat 12, thus automaticallylocking the straps I8, 20 in their normal, longitudinally alinedpositions as will be clearly apparent.

Y It'may be explained that the particular concave configuration of theseat 12 and the com- .plementarily convex'configuration of the detent2,659,479". t" r e g 14 facilitates efficient engagement anddisengagement of the detent upon manipulation of the finger-piece 80. Itmay be also explained that the locking mechanism 10, i6, 82 and 88 maybe provided on both joints 28 of the leg brace, or only on one joint, asdesired.

Attention is also directed to the aforementioned pins or rivets 62,these being provided with relatively large heads at one end, andcarrying at their remaining ends relatively large washers 92, so thatthese heads and washers substantially reinforce the joints by abuttingthe interfitting ears 58, 60.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will beclearly apparent from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, furtherdescription thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resortedto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asclaimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I

In a leg brace, the combination of upper and lower straps, upper andlower joint members each having a substantially U-shaped socket, endportions of said straps being secured in the respective sockets, a pivotpin connecting said members together, a cam secured on said pin in thesocket of the lower joint member and provided in its upper edge portionwith a concave depression constituting a seat, a pawl'pivotally mountedin the socket of the upper member, a convex detent provided on said pawland engaging said seat, an apertured guide secured to said upper memberabove said pawl, a stem pivoted at one end thereof to said pawl andslidable in the aperture of said guide and, a compression springprovided on said stem and bearing' against said pawl and said guidewhereby said detent is urged in said seat to lock said members andstraps in a predetermined relative position, an end portion of said pawlprojecting outwardly from the associated socket and constituting afinger-piece whereby said pawl may be actuated against the resiliency ofsaid spring to disengage'said' detent from said seat.

' t WALLACE L. SLODEK, SR.

REFERENCES- CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

